Jon Paul Raville

Thursday

Jun 5, 2014 at 12:01 AM

Jon Paul Raville, 74, of Cheboygan, died June 2, 2014 in Petoskey, Mich.

Jon Paul Raville, 74, of Cheboygan, died June 2, 2014 in Petoskey, Mich.Jon was born on Aug. 20, 1939 in Cheboygan, the son of George and Lorena (Birdsall) Raville. He attended the Cheboygan Central School and graduated from the Cheboygan High School in the class of 1957. He then went on to Northwestern, where he received his LPN, and Ferris State University, where he received his RN degree.On April 28, 1979, Jon married Kathy Defina and the two made their home in Cheboygan. Kathy preceded Jon in death on May 5, 2007.In his youth, Jon worked at the Barnish and Ditta Drugstores and in 1962 after receiving his degrees, he went to work at the Cheboygan Memorial Hospital, where he received the Nurse of the Year award in 1993. Jon retired from the hospital in 1999 after 37 dedicated years, but that didn't stop him from continuing to serve the people of Cheboygan. He volunteered his time with Hospice of the Straits and also with St. Paul's Methodist Church in Cheboygan, where he could frequently be found driving the church's bus, giving a ride to those in need. Jon loved and respected everyone and he will be greatly missed.Jon was a member of St. Paul's Methodist Church in Cheboygan and the Straits Area Band, where he played the trombone. He enjoyed his music collections, enjoying nature, and was an avid fan of any Michigan-based sports team, all of which he faithfully followed.He is survived by four children, Ellen (Rex) Recek, Troy (Barbara Brown) Raville, Kevin (Mandy) Raville and Joel (Dolores) Raville; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Audrey Raville; and by his father-in-law, Frank Defina.Jon was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Kathy; and by a brother, G. Richard Raville.A memorial service celebrating Jon's life will be held on June 21 at 10 a.m. at the St. Paul's Methodist Church with Rev Trevor Herm officiating.Those wishing to honor Jon's memory are asked to make a donation to St. Paul's Methodist Church or the Friendship Centers of Emmet County.Online condolences and memories of Jon may be left on his online register book at www.stonefuneralhomeinc.com.Arrangements are in the care of the Stone Funeral Home of Petoskey.